Human Rights Activist Among 13 Receiving Honorary Doctorates

June 03, 2014 - News Release

A Guatemalan human rights activist and a Métis lawyer internationally known for her impact on aboriginal rights law will be among 13 recipients of honorary doctorates from the University of Guelph during spring convocation.

The ceremonies will take place June 9 to 13 in War Memorial Hall.

Helen Mack Chang became a human rights activist after the execution of her sister, Myrna Mack, by the Guatemalan military. The Myrna Mack case became the first political case in Guatemala to be prosecuted, and triggered a series of reforms in state institutions, including the judiciary and the police.

Jean Teillet has been involved in numerous significant treaty negotiations, and is the founding president of the Métis Nation Lawyers Association and a founding member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. The great-grandniece of native leader Louis Riel, she was the inaugural recipient of the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Lincoln Alexander Award for her work as an aboriginal role model and mentor.

Honorary degrees will be presented to:

Bob Farquharson, director and vice-chair of AGF Management Ltd., a member of the University’s Board of Trustees and a member of advisory councils for the BetterPlanet Project and the "Health for Life" initiative;

Charles Grieco, former owner and operator of La Scala restaurant for 35 years, led the Ontario Hostelry Institute since 1977 and managing director of the Canadian Hospitality Foundation, has helped raise millions of dollars for student awards and support;

Helen Mack Chang, founder and president of the Myrna Mack Foundation, advocate for the rule of law in Guatemala, head of the Commission on Police Reform in Guatemala;

Marc Mangel, professor of mathematical biology at the University of California-Santa Cruz and director of Centre for Stock Assessment Research, and a renowned mathematical biologist and theoretical ecologist;

Tracey McNamara, professor at the Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Veterinary Medicine in California, uncovered the outbreak of West Nile virus in New York State;

Paul Moughan, professor at Massey University in New Zealand, leading authority on mammalian protein metabolism and food evaluation science;

Vijay Singh, chair in water engineering and professor at Texas A & M University, designed and funded an innovative high school in rural India, and established a foundation to promote reforestation, sanitation and public hygiene in India;

James Spudich, professor of cardiovascular disease, as well as biochemistry and developmental biology at Stanford, applies multidisciplinary ideas to single-molecule assays and laser trapping;

Lorraine Stubbs, world-class equestrian competitor, coach, and judge, dedicated to equine health and welfare, and has served on the campaign cabinet of U of G’s BetterPlanet Project;

Jean Teillet, founding president of the Métis Nation Lawyers Association and a founding member of the Métis Nation of Ontario, and in 2012 received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal; and

Paul Uys, senior executive in retail food industry, has worked to improve sustainability of Loblaw Companies Ltd., including working with farmers to expand value-added opportunities.

9 a.m. - College of Biological Science
11:30 a.m. - College of Biological Science2 p.m. - College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
Professor Emeritus – Barry Smit4:30 p.m. - College of Social and Applied Human Sciences7 p.m. - College of Social and Applied Human Sciences; Ontario Agricultural College
Honorary Doctorate – Lorraine Stubbs

Tuesday, June 10

9 a.m. - College of Business and Economics; College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
Honorary Doctorate – Charles Grieco11:30 a.m. - College of Business and Economics
Honorary Doctorate – Paul Uys2 p.m. - College of Business and Economics
Honorary Doctorate – Mick Jackson4:30 p.m. - College of Physical and Engineering Science
Honorary Doctorate – Vijay Singh7 p.m. - College of Arts; College of Biological Science; College of Physical and Engineering Science; College of Social and Applied Human Sciences

Wednesday June 11

9 a.m. - College of Biological Science
Honorary Doctorate – James Spudich11:30 a.m. - College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
Honorary Doctorate – Helen Mack Chang2 p.m. - College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
Honorary Doctorate – George Kuh4:30 p.m. - College of Arts